New York City. The early hours of the morning. A bodega buzzes with activity as customers walk down the aisles before starting their day. The shelves are stocked with snacks, the fridges filled with beverages, and, suddenly, an unexpected employee appears—a cat. While feline employees are not a requirement of NYC bodegas, quite a few can be seen with one across the boroughs.

These cats don’t get paid, but they don’t pay rent either. Just like any pet owner, their caretakers provide these cats with a life filled with food, attention, and shelter.

Instead of lounging on a typical couch, they can be seen in the snack aisle, curled behind the counter, or even sunbathing in front of the entrance—blocking your way inside.

Located on Quentin Road and 34th St in Brooklyn, Quentin Deli Grocery is home to its very own creature, who often wanders both the bodega and the surrounding neighborhood. Dana Patel, the bodega’s cashier, is one of the many caretakers of the cat.

“His name is Tony,” Patel said. “Somebody dropped him off here years ago, and he likes to walk around the streets a lot.” Patel describes the black-and-white spotted cat as friendly. 

The Quentin now serves as his main guardian and has taken the responsibility of feeding him, but he was practically adopted by the entire neighborhood. Despite being housed by the bodega’s owners, Tony is comfortable traveling block to block as many know him as a staple in the community. 

“I mainly take care of the food,” Patel said. “I put the food right there [next to the door], and he comes inside and eats it up.”

Tony knows exactly where to go if he wants to satisfy his hunger. When he’s not eating, he splits his days between lounging inside and exploring the block. Customers and passersby love petting Tony in and outside the store, enjoying his quiet and cuddly nature.

The bodega is located right next to a string of houses, where Tony is often seen meandering through the nearby properties. When he’s not exploring the community, he spends his spare time relaxing in local backyards.

“He’s always walking somewhere outside,” Patel said. “Sometimes he sleeps in the neighbor’s backyard next door.”

As an unofficial employee, Tony doesn’t do much to help the bodega’s daily operations. However, the joy he brings to everyone around him is unmistakable and clear.

Unlike Tony, Manhattan Marketplace on 1st Ave and E 12th St has a very dedicated worker in their hands. Upon entering the bodega, customers are immediately greeted by Gigi, who is typically perched on the bar stools right next to the front door.

“Everyone here loves her,” Nadine said. “She’s here 24 hours everyday.”

Gigi is a gorgeous white cat who used to live on the streets in the Bronx, where she was later adopted by Nadine and her husband from a parking lot. As Gigi works full-time, her usual lounging spot changes depending on the weather.

“In the winter time, she always goes to the top of the machines [refrigerators] under the camera to keep herself warm,” Nadine said. “In the summer, she’s always sleeping on those chairs.”

While Gigi is often stationed near the entrance greeting customers, it is not her sole job responsibility.

“Mice were never one of the reasons why we adopted her, but it helps,” Nadine said. “We haven’t seen a mouse since we got her.”

Despite their cute presence, it’s important to note that having a cat in a bodega isn’t technically legal. More often than not, cats are used as a natural pest control to get rid of insects and mice in the stores—whether intentionally or not.

Similar to Gigi, Hunter, a resident of Nile Gourmet Deli, has taken his home’s pest problem into his own paws. Located at 25th Ave and Steinway St in Queens, this bodega’s owners had their own reasons for keeping a cat in the store.

“He’s good pest control, but that’s not really the reason we have him,” Mohamed M. said. “We keep him around as a pet.”

Mohamed and his family had their own cat at home, who birthed this furball named Hunter. “People who usually visit the store love petting him,” Mohamed said. Hunter lives full-time at his workplace, loved by his owners and customers.

On the other side of the city, Fresh Food Farm flaunts its celebrity employee. Based on 2nd Ave and E 69th St in Manhattan, Mia is a cuddly white cat, whose original caregiver gifted her to the owner of the bodega before moving out of the city.

“She has her own social media account,” employee Jay Jaat said. “If you want to look at her pictures.”

According to her Instagram bio, this feline’s full name is Mia Garfield and she is the bodega’s very own manager. The account consists of multiple snapshots of Mia that are posted from all over the store and neighborhood—including photos of her and her fans.

Although she is very attentive to her fans, Mia is described as a lazy celebrity.

“She doesn’t do much. She just eats and sleeps around the store,” Jaat said. “She’s even sleeping right now.”

Bodega cats like Tony, Gigi, Hunter, and Mia are more than just store pets—they are a part of their community. Whether they’re greeting customers, keeping pests away, or just lounging around, these felines bring delight to the city’s busy streets. Despite these cats being few and far in between, they are essential to what makes New York City unique and full of charm.